Immigration Bill Clears Senate Hurdle

The Senate overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to allow a formal debate on a bill that would clear a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants. By a vote of 82–15, lawmakers advanced the Gang of Eight's bill to the floor, though high-ranking Republicans cautioned that it didn't mean there would be enough support to pass it later on. Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, an architect of the legislation, said he would have trouble supporting the bill unless changes were made to strengthen the border-security provisions. Still, this may be the best chance to overhaul immigration policy, Obama has said. The last time lawmakers made any headway on the issue was 1986, when President Reagan signed an amnesty bill that gave 3 million people citizenship.